Novel Microorganism and Method for Producing Dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-Tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]Furan Intermediate Using the Novel Microorganism

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a novel microorganism that efficiently produces a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate using sclareol as a substrate. As a result of concentrated studies, a plurality of novel microorganisms having properties of interest that are not classified as conventional microorganisms were isolated and identified. The novel microorganism of the present invention belongs to  Ascomycetes  and has the ability of producing a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate using sclareol as a substrate. Such microorganism of  Ascomycetes  represents a new finding and it can be effective for producing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan and an intermediate thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/280,067, §371 Date Aug. 20, 2008, which is the U.S. National Phase of International Application No. PCT/JP2006/325516, international filing date of Dec. 21, 2006, and which claims benefit of the filing date of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-048550, filed Feb. 24, 2006, the disclosures of each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a novel microorganism that produces a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate using sclareol as a substrate. Further, the present invention relates to a method for producing a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate using the novel microorganism.

BACKGROUND ART

Dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan (occasionally referred to as “Ambroxan (trademark)”) is an aroma chemical with satisfactorily long-lasting properties that is produced via chemical conversion mainly from sclareol extracted from Salvia sclarea. FIG. 1 shows a process for producing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan from sclareol. As shown in FIG. 1, decahydro-2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethylnaphthaleneethanol and sclareolide (decahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan-2(1H)-one) are known as dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates. Also, a cyclic ether compound (8α,13-oxido-12,13-dehydro-15,16-dinorlabdane) is known as a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate, although it is not shown in FIG. 1.

Conversion of sclareol into a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate by a microorganism is described in, for example, JP Patent No. 2547713, JP Patent No. 2802588, JP Patent No. 3002654, and JP Patent No. 2063550. JP Patent No. 2547713 discloses production of decahydro-2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethylnaphthaleneethanol by Hyphozyma roseoniger ATCC20624. JP Patent No. 2802588 discloses production of a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate by Cryptococcus laurentii ATCC20920. JP Patent No. 3002654 discloses production of a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate by Bensingtonia cilliata ATCC20919. JP Patent No. 2063550 discloses production of a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate by Cryptococcus albidus ATCC20918 and Cryptococcus albidus ATCC20921.

Thus, only microorganisms of Basidiomycetes or Hyphozyma were known as microorganisms having the ability of producing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates using sclareol as a substrate, as disclosed in JP Patent No. 2547713, JP Patent No. 2802588, JP Patent No. 3002654, and JP Patent No. 2063550.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Under the above circumstances, the present invention is intended to provide a novel microorganism that can efficiently produce a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate using sclareol as a substrate. Further, the present invention is intended to provide a method for producing a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate using such microorganism.

Means for Solving the Problems

In order to solve the above problems, the present inventors have conducted concentrated studies on soil samples as the sources of microorganisms obtained from Haga Gun, Tochigi, Japan, and Utsunomiya City, Tochigi, Japan, for the purpose of isolating and identifying microorganisms having properties of interest. As a result, they succeeded in isolating and identifying three strains of novel microorganisms that are not classified as conventional microorganisms and that have properties of interest. The present invention has been completed based on findings to the effect that a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate can be produced using sclareol as a substrate, the same being possessed by the above novel microorganisms.

The novel microorganisms according to the present invention belong to Ascomycetes and have the ability of producing a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate using sclareol as a substrate. Microorganisms of Ascomycetes having such ability represent novel findings, and such microorganisms can be useful for producing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan and an intermediate thereof. Regarding novel microorganisms that had been isolated and identified by the present inventors, the nucleotide sequences of the genes encoding 28S rRNA (hereafter referred to as “28S rDNA”) were identified. Such nucleotide sequences are as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 3. Regarding the novel microorganisms, the nucleotide sequences of the genes encoding 18S rRNA (hereafter referred to as “18S rDNA”) were identified. Such nucleotide sequences are as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 4 to 6. Further, the novel microorganisms were found to have mycological properties shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 KSM-JL2842 KSM-J3571 KSM-JL4651 Carbon source assimilability test D-Glucose + + + D-Galactose + + + L-Sorbose + + w D-Ribose w w w D-Xylose + + + L-Arabinose + + + D-Arabinose + w w L-Rhamnose + + + Sucrose + + + Maltose + + + α,α-Trehalose + + + Me α-D-glucoside + + w D-Cellobiose + + + Salicin − w w Melibiose + + + Lactose + + w D-Raffinose + + + Melezitose + + + Inulin − w − Soluble starch w + + Glycerol + + w meso-Erythritol + + w Ribitol w − w D-Sorbitol + + w D-Mannitol + + w D-Galactitol − − − myo-Inositol + w w Glucono-1,5-lactone w w − Ca 2-keto-gluconic acid − − w Ca 5-keto-gluconic acid − − w DL-Lactate + + w Succinate + + + Citrate − w w Methanol − − − Sugar fermentability test D-Glucose − − − Nitrogen source assimilability test Potassium nitrate + + +

The present inventors attempted to identify novel microorganisms based on the nucleotide sequences of 28S rDNA as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 3, the nucleotide sequences of 18S rDNA as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 4 to 6, and mycological properties shown in Table 1. As a result, they were able to discern only that the novel microorganisms belonged to Ascomycetes. Specifically, the novel microorganisms were not classified into known genera or species of Ascomycetes. Thus, such novel microorganisms were concluded to belong to a novel genus. Classification in terms of mycological properties was performed in accordance with Barnett, J. A., Payne, R. W., and Yarrow, D., 2000, Yeasts: Characteristics and identification, 3^(rd) edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.; and Kurtzman, C. P. and Fell, J. W., 1998, The Yeasts, a taxonomic study, 4^(th) edition, Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The novel microorganisms were deposited at the International Patent Organism Depositary of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (IPOD: Tsukuba Central 6, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8566, Japan) as of Jan. 12, 2006, under the accession numbers FERM BP-10713 and FERM BP-10712 and as of Jul. 13, 2006, under the accession number FERM BP-10714.

Specifically, the microorganisms of the present invention belong to Ascomycetes and have the ability of producing an intermediate during the process of synthesizing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan using sclareol as a substrate. Also, it is preferable that the microorganisms of the present invention comprise 28S rDNA consisting of a nucleotide sequence having 95% or higher identity to the nucleotide sequence as shown in any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 3 or 18S rDNA consisting of a nucleotide sequence having 95% or higher identity to the nucleotide sequence as shown in any of SEQ ID NOs: 4 to 6. Further, the microorganisms of the present invention preferably have the mycological properties shown in Table 1. Furthermore, the microorganisms of the present invention are preferably of ascomycetous yeast strains that are identified by the accession number FERM BP-10713, FERM BP-10712, or FERM BP-10714. The microorganisms of the present invention may belong to the genus, preferably the species, and more preferably the strain to which the ascomycetous yeast strains belong.

Examples of the intermediates of the present invention include decahydro-2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethylnaphthaleneethanol and/or sclareolide (decahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan-2(1H)-one).

The present invention can provide a method for producing a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate using the novel microorganisms of the present invention. Specifically, the method for producing a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate according to the present invention comprises culturing the novel microorganisms in a sclareol-containing medium and producing an intermediate during the process of synthesizing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan using sclareol as a substrate.

Effects of the Invention

The present invention can provide novel microorganisms that belong to Ascomycetes and that have the ability of producing an intermediate during the process of synthesizing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan using sclareol as a substrate. Dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan, which is a starting material for an aroma chemical or the like, can be produced from such intermediate. Accordingly, use of the novel microorganisms of the present invention enables production of dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan at low cost.

The present invention can also provide a method for producing a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate, which is a starting material for dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan as a starting material for an aroma chemical or the like. According to the method for producing a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate of the present invention, dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan can be produced at low cost.

This description includes part or all of the contents as disclosed in the description and/or drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-048550, which is a priority document of the present application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a process for producing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan from sclareol.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereafter, the present invention is described in detail.

Novel Microorganisms

The novel microorganisms of the present invention belong to Ascomycetes and produce an intermediate, i.e., a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate, during the process of synthesizing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan using sclareol as a substrate. The term “dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate” used herein refers to decahydro-2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethylnaphthaleneethanol and sclareolide (decahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan-2(1H)-one).

The novel microorganisms of the present invention can be isolated from soil using the ability of producing a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate as an indicator. The ability of producing a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate can be evaluated by culturing test microorganisms in a sclareol-containing medium and detecting a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate in the medium. A dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate in the medium can be detected by extracting the dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate, using an organic solvent, from the medium from which the test microorganisms have been removed, and then performing, for example, gas chromatography (GC).

Methods for detecting the dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate are not limited to GC. For example, conventional methods of analysis, such as gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), infrared spectrum (IR), or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), can be employed.

The present inventors have isolated the novel microorganisms of Ascomycetes from soil samples of Haga Gun, Tochigi, Japan, and Utsunomiya City, Tochigi, Japan, via such means. The isolated, novel microorganisms are cultured in a sclareol-containing medium, so that such microorganisms can produce dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates in the medium. The present inventors designated these novel microorganisms as Ascomycete sp. KSM-JL2842, Ascomycete sp. KSM-J3571, and Ascomycete sp. KSM-JL4651 and deposited them at the International Patent Organism Depositary of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (IPOD: Tsukuba Central 6, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8566, Japan) under the accession numbers FERM BP-10713, FERM BP-10712, and FERM BP-10714.

The novel microorganisms of the present invention include microorganisms that belong yeast strains of Ascomycetes identified by the accession number FERM BP-10713, FERM BP-10712, or FERM BP-10714, microorganisms that are classified into the same genus as that of the yeast strains, preferably, into the same species, and more preferably, into the same strain as the yeast strains. Also, such microorganisms have the ability of producing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates.

The ascomycetous yeast strains identified by the accession numbers FERM BP-10713, FERM BP-10712, and FERM BP-10714 have 28S rDNA comprising the nucleotide sequences as shown in any of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Accordingly, the novel microorganisms of the present invention include ascomycetous yeast strains having 28S rDNA comprising a nucleotide sequence having 95% or higher, preferably 98% or higher, and more preferably 99% or higher identity to any one of the nucleotide sequences as shown in any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 3 and having the ability of producing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates.

Further, ascomycetous yeast strains identified by the accession numbers FERM BP-10713, FERM BP-10712, and FERM BP-10714 have 18S rDNA comprising the nucleotide sequences as shown in SEQ ID NOs: 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Accordingly, the novel microorganisms of the present invention include ascomycetous yeast strains having 18S rDNA comprising a nucleotide sequence having 95% or higher, preferably 98% or higher, and more preferably 99% or higher identity to any one of the nucleotide sequences as shown in any of SEQ ID NOs: 4 to 6 and having the ability of producing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates.

Production of dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan Intermediate by Novel Microorganisms

With the use of the novel microorganisms of the present invention described above, dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates can be produced. The produced dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates can be used as starting materials for producing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan, which is a new aroma chemical of high value with satisfactorily long-lasting properties.

When producing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates with the use of the novel microorganisms of the present invention, the novel microorganisms of the present invention are first cultured in a sclareol-containing medium. A medium of any composition can be used, provided that microorganisms of Ascomycetes can grow therein. Examples of medium that can be used include solid medium and liquid medium containing carbon sources, nitrogen sources, minerals, and vitamins. A medium for culturing the novel microorganisms of the present invention may contain a surfactant or an antifoaming agent, in accordance with culture conditions or the like.

Examples of carbon sources to be added to the medium include monosaccharide, disaccharide, oligosaccharide, and polysaccharide. They may be used in combinations of two or more. Examples of carbon sources other than saccharides include organic acid salts, such as acetic acid salts. These carbon sources may be used independently or in combinations of two or more according to need.

Examples of nitrogen sources include inorganic and organic ammonium salts, such as ammonia, ammonium chloride, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium phosphate, and ammonium acetate, nitrogen-containing organic substances, such as urea, peptone, meat extract, yeast extract, and casein hydrolysate, and amino acids, such as glycine, glutamic acid, alanine, and methionine. These nitrogen sources May be used independently or in combinations of two or more according to need.

Further, examples of minerals include sodium chloride, ferrous sulfate, magnesium sulfate, manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate, and calcium carbonate. Each mineral can be used independently or in combinations of two or more according to need.

Conditions for culturing the novel microorganisms of the present invention are not particularly limited, and culture can be carried out at the optimal pH level and temperature. Specifically, an optimal pH level is 3 to 8, preferably 4 to 8, and more preferably 5 to 7. Optimal temperature is 10° C. to 35° C., preferably 15° C. to 30° C., and more preferably 20° C. to 30° C. Culture can be conducted via, for example, shake culture, anaerobiotic culture, stationary culture, or culture in a fermenter. In addition, a resting cell reaction and an immobilized-cell reaction can also be employed.

A concentration of sclareol to be added to a medium having such composition is not particularly limited, and such concentration is preferably 0.1% to 50%. Sclareol may be added to the medium prior to the culture or during the culture (i.e., feeding culture). Also, components other than sclareol, such as carbon sources, nitrogen sources, vitamins, minerals, surfactants, or antifoaming agents, can be simultaneously fed.

Dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates can be recovered from a medium after culturing the novel microorganisms as described above. Dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates can be recovered from a medium in accordance with a conventional technique, without particular limitation. For example, cells are separated and removed from a medium, and dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates an be isolated and purified with the use of combinations of centrifugation, ultrafiltration, ion-exchange chromatography, reverse osmosis membrane filtration, electrodialysis, salting out, crystallization, and other means.

A method for producing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan using the resulting dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates is not particularly limited, and an adequate conventional technique can be employed. Specifically, sclareolide is reduced with, for example, lithium aluminum hydride, sodium borohydride, or a potassium borohydride/lithium chloride mixture to give decahydro-2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethylnaphthaleneethanol. Decahydro-2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethylnaphthaleneethanol is subjected to cyclodehydration in various types of solvents with the use of acidic catalysts, such as p-toluenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid chloride, or catalytic amounts of sulfuric acid and acidic ion-exchanger to give dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan.

EXAMPLES

Hereafter, the present invention is described in greater detail with reference to the examples, although the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

Example 1 Isolation of Novel Microorganisms

Novel microorganisms were isolated from soil samples of Haga Gun, Tochigi, Japan, and Utsunomiya City, Tochigi, Japan, in the following manner.

At the outset, 100 μl of a soil suspension was applied to an agar medium containing 0.2% yeast extract, 0.2% ammonium nitrate, 0.1% monopotassium phosphate, 0.05% magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, 2.0% agar, 1.0% sclareol (separately sterilized), and 0.5% Tween 80 (separately sterilized). Culture was conducted at 25° C. for 7 to 14 days, the grown colonies were inoculated into a liquid medium containing 0.2% yeast extract, 0.2% ammonium nitrate, 0.1% monopotassium phosphate, and 0.05% magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, and culture was conducted at 25° C. for 1 day to provide starter strains. Subsequently, the starter strains were inoculated into a medium containing 0.2% yeast extract, 0.2% ammonium nitrate, 0.1% monopotassium phosphate, 0.05% magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, 1.0% sclareol (separately sterilized), and 0.5% Tween 80 (separately sterilized) to a concentration of 1%, and culture was conducted at 25° C. for 1 week.

After the completion of culture, a target substance was extracted from 0.1 ml of a culture solution with 0.6 ml of ethyl acetate, adequately diluted, and then subjected to gas chromatography (GC) analysis. Analysis was carried out using the Agilent technologies 6890N as a GC analyzer under the following conditions. A Flame Ionization Detector (FID) was used as a detector, the inlet temperature was set at 250° C., a split injection mode was used with a split ratio of 100:1, the total flow rate was 200 ml/min, the column flow rate was 0.4 ml/min, the DB-WAX (φ 0.1 mm×10 m, J&W) column was used as a column, and the oven temperature was 250° C. Under such conditions, a cyclic ether compound, i.e., a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate, exhibited a peak at around 0.8 minutes, sclareolide exhibited a peak at around 2.4 minutes, sclareol exhibited a peak at around 2.7 minutes, and decahydro-2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethylnaphthaleneethanol exhibited a peak at around 3 minutes.

Under such conditions, 6,950 starter strains were evaluated in terms of the ability of producing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates. As a result, novel microorganisms having the ability of producing mainly decahydro-2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethylnaphthaleneethanol were isolated. The isolated novel microorganisms were designated as KSM-JL2842, KSM-J3571, and KSM-JL4651.

Example 2 Classification of Novel Microorganisms

Mycological properties of KSM-JL2842, KSM-J3571, and KSM-JL4651 isolated in Example 1 were identified and rDNAs thereof were analyzed in an attempt to classify such strains.

At the outset, mycological properties of KSM-JL2842 were identified in the following manner. A wet and pale red colony was observed on YM agar (Becton Dickinson) plate medium, and the shape of the peripheral portion of the colony was relatively smooth. Microscopic features thereof were observed. As a result, formation of egg-shaped to oval and cylindrical trophocytes was observed, and trophocytes were found to proliferate due to gemmation. As a result of a biochemical property test, the results shown in Table 2 were obtained. In Table 2, the symbol “+” indicates a positive result, the symbol “−” indicates a negative result, and the symbol “w” indicates a weak positive result. Also, KSM-JL2842 grew at 25° C. but did not grow at 30° C. or higher.

Mycological properties of KSM-J3571 were identified in the following manner. A wet and pale red to yellowish red colony was observed on YM agar (Becton Dickinson) plate medium, and the shape of the peripheral portion of the colony was smooth. Microscopic features thereof were observed. As a result, formation of egg-shaped to oval and spindle trophocytes was observed, and trophocytes were found to proliferate due to gemmation. As a result of a biochemical property test, the results shown in Table 2 were obtained. Also, KSM-J3571 grew at 25° C., grew weakly at 30° C., but did not grow at 35° C. or higher.

Mycological properties of KSM-JL4651 were identified in the following manner. A wet and pale red colony was observed on YM agar (Becton Dickinson) plate medium, and the shape of the peripheral portion of the colony was relatively smooth. Microscopic features thereof were observed. As a result, formation of egg-shaped to oval and cylindrical trophocytes was observed, and trophocytes were found to proliferate due to gemmation. As a result of a biochemical property test, the results shown in Table 2 were obtained. Also, KSM-JL4651 grew at 30° C. but did not grow at 35° C. or higher.

TABLE 2 KSM-JL2842 KSM-J3571 KSM-JL4651 Carbon source assimilability test D-Glucose + + + D-Galactose + + + L-Sorbose + + w D-Ribose w w w D-Xylose + + + L-Arabinose + + + D-Arabinose + w w L-Rhamnose + + + Sucrose + + + Maltose + + + α,α-Trehalose + + + Me α-D-glucoside + + w D-Cellobiose + + + Salicin − w w Melibiose + + + Lactose + + w D-Raffinose + + + Melezitose + + + Inulin − w − Soluble starch w + + Glycerol + + w meso-Erythritol + + w Ribitol w − w D-Sorbitol + + w D-Mannitol + + w D-Galactitol − − − myo-Inositol + w w Glucono-1,5-lactone w w − Ca 2-keto-gluconic acid − − w Ca 5-keto-gluconic acid − − w DL-Lactate + + w Succinate + + + Citrate − w w Methanol − − − Sugar fermentability test D-Glucose − − − Nitrogen source assimilability test Potassium nitrate + + +

Subsequently, rDNAs of KSM-JL2842, KSM-J3571, and KSM-JL4651 were analyzed in the following manner. Specifically, the D1/D2 region of the 28S rDNA and the 18S rDNA were analyzed in accordance with the method of O'Donnell (O'Donnell, K. 1993, Fusarium and its near relatives, in Reynolds, D. R. and Taylor, J. W. (Eds) The Fungal Holomorph Mitotic, Meiotic and Pleomorphic Speciation in Fungal Systematics, CAB International, Wallingford) to deduce their taxonomic groups. The nucleotide sequences of the D1/D2 region of the 28S rRNA were determined, and the results are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 3. Also, the nucleotide sequences of 18S rDNA were determined, and the results are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 4 to 6. identity search was conducted by BLAST.

The nucleotide sequence of the D1/D2 region of the 28S rDNA obtained from KSM-JL2842 exhibited 94.9% identity to the nucleotide sequence of Pseudourotium zonatum (AF096198), which is an Ascomycetes strain, and 94.6% identity to the nucleotide sequence of Crinula caliciiformis (AY544680). Also, the nucleotide sequence of 18S rDNA exhibited high identity; i.e., 98.8% identity to the nucleotide sequence of Bulgaria inquinans (AJ224362), which is an Ascomycetes strain, 98.9% identity to ascomycete sp. BBA71218 (AJ301960), and 98.9% identity to the nucleotide sequence of Cryptosporiopsis radicicola (DQ002903). However, it was difficult to deduce the taxonomic group of KSM-JL2842 into smaller classification than “class” level. Thus, it was concluded that the strain of interest was a yeast strain of a novel genus of Ascomycetes, which is classified in Ascomycetes class. The results of this example enabled identification of the strain of interest as Ascomycete sp. KSM-JL2842.

The nucleotide sequence of the D1/D2 region of the 28S rDNA obtained from KSM-J3571 exhibited 94.9% identity to the nucleotide sequence of Pseudourotium zonatum (AF096198), which is an Ascomycetes strain, 94.8% identity to the nucleotide sequence of Leuconeurospora pulcherrima (AF096193), and 94.6% identity to the nucleotide sequence of Crinula caliciiformis (AY544680). The nucleotide sequence of 18S rDNA exhibited 99.0% identity to the nucleotide sequence of ascomycete sp. BBA71218 (AJ301960), which is an Ascomycetes strain, and 98.8% identity to the nucleotide sequence of Bulgaria inquinans (AJ224362). However, it was difficult to deduce the taxonomic group of KSM-J3571 into smaller classification than “class” level. Thus, it was concluded that the strain of interest was a yeast strain of a novel genus of Ascomycetes, which is classified in Ascomycetes class. The results of this example enabled identification of the strain of interest as Ascomycete sp. KSM-J3571.

The nucleotide sequence of the D1/D2 region of the 28S rDNA obtained from KSM-JL4651 exhibited 94.6% identity to the nucleotide sequence of Pseudourotium zonatum (AF096198), which is an Ascomycetes strain, and 94.4% identity to the nucleotide sequence of Leuconeurospora pulcherrima (AF096193). The nucleotide sequence of 18S rDNA exhibited 99.0% identity to the nucleotide sequence of ascomycete sp. BBA71218 (AJ301960), which is an Ascomycetes strain, and 98.8% identity to the nucleotide sequence of Bulgaria inquinans (AJ224362). However, it was difficult to deduce the taxonomic group of KSM-JL4651 into smaller classification than “class” level. Thus, it was concluded that the strain of interest was a yeast strain of a novel genus of Ascomycetes, which is classified in Ascomycetes class. The results of this example enabled identification of the strain of interest as Ascomycete sp. KSM-JL4651.

Ascomycete sp. KSM-JL2842 and KSM-J3571 were deposited as of Jan. 12, 2006, under the accession numbers FERM BP-10713 and FERM BP-10712 and Ascomycete sp. KSM-JL4651 was deposited as of Jul. 13, 2006, under the accession number FERM BP-10714 at the International Patent Organism Depositary of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (IPOD: Tsukuba Central 6, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8566, Japan).

Example 3 Examination of Ability of Producing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate

In this example, the ability of Ascomycete sp. KSM-JL2842 for producing a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate was examined. At the outset, a platinum loopful of Ascomycete sp. KSM-JL2842 was inoculated into 2.1% YM broth (Becton Dickinson), shake-culture was conducted at 25° C. for 2 days, and the resultants were designated as starter strains. Subsequently, the starter strains were inoculated into a medium containing 2.1% YM broth, 0.1% magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, 1% Tween 80, and 2% sclareol to a concentration of 2%, and shake culture was conducted at 25° C. The culture solution was subjected to extraction and GC analysis via the method of Example 1, and the amounts of the dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates to be produced were determined. The results are shown in Table 3. The units for the numerical values shown in Table 3 are “g/l.”

TABLE 3 4 days 7 days 10 days Sclareolide 0.3 0.4 0.2 Decahydro-2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a- 12.0 15.7 14.5 tetramethylnaphthaleneethanol Cyclic ether 0.5 0.4 0.8

The results shown in Table 3 demonstrate that Ascomycete sp. KSM-JL2842 can mainly produce decahydro-2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethylnaphthaleneethanol, among dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates.

Example 4 Examination of Ability of Producing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan Intermediate

In this example, the abilities of Ascomycete sp. KSM-JL2842, KSM-J3571, and KSM-JL4651 for producing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates were examined. At the outset, a platinum loopful of these strains were inoculated into a medium containing 0.2% yeast extract (Becton Dickinson), 0.2% ammonium nitrate, 0.1% monopotassium phosphate, 0.05% magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, and 1.0% glucose, shake culture was conducted at 25° C. for 2 days, and the resultants were designated as starter strains. Subsequently, the starter strains were inoculated into a medium containing 0.2% yeast extract (Becton Dickinson), 0.2% ammonium nitrate, 0.1% monopotassium phosphate, 0.05% magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, 1.0% glucose, 0.5% Tween 80, and 1.0% sclareol to a concentration of 1%, and shake culture was conducted at 25° C. for 6 days. The culture solution was subjected to extraction and GC analysis via the method of Example 1, and the amounts of the dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates to be produced were determined. The results are shown in Table 4. The units for the numerical values shown in Table 4 are “g/l.”

TABLE 4 KSM-JL2842 KSM-J3571 KSM-JL4651 Sclareolide 0.4 3.1 0.4 Decahydro-2-hydroxy- 2.0 0.2 0.7 2,5,5,8a-tetramethyl- naphthaleneethanol Cyclic ether Trace 0.1 Trace

The results shown in Table 4 demonstrate that Ascomycete sp. KSM-JL2842, KSM-J3571, and KSM-JL4651 produce dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediates.

All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 

1. A microorganism belonging to Ascomycetes and having the ability of producing an intermediate during a step of synthesizing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan using sclareol as a substrate, wherein said microorganism has 28S rDNA comprising a nucleotide sequence having 95% or higher identify to the nucleotide sequence as shown in an one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 3 or 18S rDNA comprising a nucleotide sequence having 95% or higher identity to the nucleotide sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 4 to
 6. 2. (canceled)
 3. The microorganism according to claim 1, which has mycological properties selected from the group consisting of the properties of KSM-JL2842, the properties of KSM-J3571, and KSM-JL4651, as shown in Table 1 below. TABLE 1 KSM-JL2842 KSM-J3571 KSM-JL4651 Carbon assimilability test D-Glucose + + + D-Galactose + + + L-Sorbose + + w D-Ribose w w w D-Xylose + + + L-Arabinose + + + D-Arabinose + w w L-Rhamnose + + + Sucrose + + + Maltose + + + α,α-Trehalose + + + Me α-D-glucoside + + w D-Cellobiose + + + Salicin − w w Melibiose + + + Lactose + + w D-Raffinose + + + Melezitose + + + Inulin − w − Soluble starch w + + Glycerol + + w meso-Erythritol + + w Ribitol w − w D-Sorbitol + + w D-Mannitol + + w D-Galactitol − − − myo-Inositol + w w Glucono-1,5-lactone w w − Ca 2-keto-gluconic acid − − w Ca 5-keto-gluconic acid − − w DL-Lactate + + w Succinate + + + Citrate − w w Methanol − − − Sugar fermentability test D-Glucose − − − Nitrogen assimilability test Potassium nitrate + + +


4. The microorganism according to claim 1, which is an ascomycetous yeast strain identified by the accession number FERM BP-10713, FERM BP-10712, or FERM BP-10714.
 5. The microorganism according to claim 1, which belongs to the same genus as the ascomycetous yeast strain identified by the accession number FERM BP-10713, FERM BP-10712, or FERM BP-10714.
 6. The microorganism according to claim 1, which belongs to the same species as the ascomycetous yeast strain identified by the accession number FERM BP-10713, FERM BP-10712, or FERM BP-10714.
 7. The microorganism according to claim 1, which has the ability of producing decahydro-2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethylnaphthaleneethanol and/or sclareolide (decahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan-2(1H)-one) as an intermediate.
 8. (canceled)
 9. (canceled) 